Thrashing-machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. ELWARD. Thrashin'g Machine.

No. 234,971. Patented Nov. 30,1880.

Wmihess 'w :kPETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

J. H. BLWARD. Thrashing Machine. No. 234,971. Patented Nov. 30,1880.

N. PErEns. PNOTO-LITHOGRAPHEH, WASHXNGTON 0 c.

4 Sh eets--Sheet 2- 4Sheets-Sheet 3. J. H. ELWARD.

Thrashing Machine.

No. 234,971. Patented Nov. 30,1880.

($8. Whwsson NFETERS, FHOYO-LITHOGRAPHER, wAsHlNGTON. D c.

4 Sheets Sheet 4. J. H. ELWARD. Thrashing Machine-r Patented Nov. 30,1880.

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' JOHN H. ELWARD, OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

THRASHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,971, dated November 30, 1880.

Application filed November 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELWARD, of the city of Stillwater, in the county of Washington and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain- Separators and 'lhrashing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked there on, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved thrasher and separator. Fig. 2 is a perspec= tive view of the supporting-jack. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 41s a side elevation of the devices for transmitting power from the engine to the machine. Fig.5 is a modification of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the devices for transmitting motion by means of a tumbling-rod and spur-gearin g, part of the machine and cylinder being shown in broken lines. Fig.8 is a view of the same having the beveled pinion removed from the shaft of the cylinder, and having a sleevecoupling and a belt-pulley substituted therefor. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the devices employed to support and retain in position the outer end of the cylinder-shaft. Fig. 10 is a top view of the devices shown in Fig. 9. Fig.

11 is a vertical transverse section of the beater. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of the beater. Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the fanand fancase and shoe detached. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the devices for transmitting motion from the fan-shaft to the shoe and of the easing which surrounds said devices. Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section of the devices shown in Fig. 14.. Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the shaker-head of the shoe. Fig. 17 is a partial longitudinal section through the elevator-casing, showing bottom thereof.

In the drawings, A represents the front wheels and A the rear wheels.

The main frame of the machine and the inclosing-casing are substantially the same as those ordinarily employed in the construction of thrashing and separating machines.

B B are the longitudinal sills of the main frame, suitablyjoined by cross-girts B 0 O G C represent the uprights or standv When the engine is placed at the side ofthe machine the driving-belt from the engine passes around the pulley (1, thereby rotating the pulley 61 which is connected with the cylinder-pulley D by means of a supplemental belt, D to which is given a quarter-turn, so that the power is applied to the pulley in substantially the same line as it would be if the engine were located directly in front of the machine.

61 represents a belt-tightener, of any suitable construction, placed so as to bear upon the belt D between the pulleysD and (1 By means of the devices illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 a single belt from the engine to the machine may be employed to transmit power. In this construction (1 d are idler-pulleys mounted upon shaft d in such manner that the belt D passes from the engine under the pulley d, over the pulley D then under pulley d, and back to the engine, as is clearly shown in the aforesaid figures.

When a thrasher is driven by a belt connected to the side'of the machine the belt has a tendency to pull the machine over and down on the side to which? the [power is applied. Hence it is necessary to provide some extra support or stay for lithe machine at thejpoint where the belt is connected with it.

In Fig. 2 F F represent the sills, F F the cross-girts, F F the uprights, and F F inclined braces, of a supplemental frame or supporting-jack, which is placed upon the ground at the front end of the machine, near the cylinder-frame. It is rigidly secured in place by means of stakes F F or by other suitable means. This frame is secured to the frame of the machine by means of a hinge constructed of the brackets or hinge-pieces G G, attached to the thrasher frame, the corresponding hinge-pieces G G secured to the uprights F F, and the rod 9 connecting the hinge-pieces G G Upon the supplemental frame are mounted standards f f, secured to the braces F F by means of pivots f" passing through the forward legs,f, of the standards, and by means ofa detachable rod, f passing through the braces F F and the rear legs, .f of the standards.

f is a shaft mounted in the standards ff, and carrying an idler-pulley, F f represents, also, a shaft mounted in the standardsf f, and carrying another idler-pulley, F.

The main drive-belt passes over the pulley F from the engine to the machine, and over pulley F from the machine back to the engine. The pulleys and the frame thus prevent a pulling strain upon the machine from the weight or the sagging of the belt.

The supplemental frame being rigidly braced against the machine will prevent the pulling of the machine over or down at the point to which the power is applied.

When the machine is being transported from place to place the supplemental supporting-frame may be folded up as follows: The rod f is withdrawn from the legsf the standards ff with the shafts and pulleys mounted therein are laid down upon the frame F and the whole frame is then turned up upon the hinges G G 9 against the side of the machine and there secured until it becomes necessary to again support the machine.

It is found very desirable to be able to so change machines that were originally constructed for the application of horse-power that steam-power may readily be applied; and for this end I have invented the following devices:

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the beveled spur-wheel H meshes with and actuates the beveled pinion E upon the end of the cylinder-shaft D, said wheel H being mounted upon the tumbling-rod shaft H. Wlten it is desired to remove this tumbling-rod gearing, in order to apply steampower to the machine, the shaft H, wheel H and pinion E are removed, after which a sleeve-coupling, K, is placed upon the end of the cylinder-shaft and keyed and bolted thereto, as was the pinion E. Then the belt-pulley K, which is so constructed that its web becomes part of the coupling, as shown at k, is bolted to the outer end of the sleeve K, as shown at k. 'Within the hub of the pulley a short shaft, L, is-then keyed, which extends outward to the box 1, upon the arm or bracketframe H, in which it (said short shaft L) has bearin In order to provide a means of uniting the pulley K to the sleeve K as securely as possible, 1 form upon the sleeve K an outwardlyprojecting flange, k and form upon the bandpulley K an in wardly-projecting boss, which fits tightly within the hollow central part of sleeve K, the flange being arranged to reframe and the machine.

ceive the bolts 70, which are situated parallel to the axis of the pulley, as shown in Fig.8.

By means of these devices I am enabled to readily apply steam-power to a machine which was originally constructed to be operated only by horse-power.

Hitherto, in the construction of machines of this class, it has been customary to support the outer end of the cylinder-shaft by a brace or frame,madc somewhat in U shape. Both ends of this frame were bolted firmly to the frame of the machine, the center of the U frame supporting the outer end of the cylinder-shaft, there being a brace bolted to the under side of the center of the frame. With this arrangement of parts it was impossible to put on or take off the driving-belt without either unlacing the belt, if a laced belt were employed, or removing two or more of the bolts which retain the sup 'iorting-frame to the machine when an endless belt was employed, both of which methods are subject to great inconvenience and to great wear'and damage of the parts, as the frequent lacing and unlacing of a belt rapidly wears out the lacings and the lacingholes in the ends, and the insertion and removal of bolts into and from the holes in the wood so enlarge the holes that a rigidity of attachment cannot be preserved between the The removal of the belt is necessitated by many causes, and especially by danger of its being wet by rain or snow, as wetting of the belt, whether it be made of rubber or leather, causes it to stretch and be rapidly damaged. I have obviated this danger by providing devices which permit an instant attachment or detachment of the belt without either lacing or unlacing or removing bolts from their holes.

Referring to Figs. 1, 9, and 10, it will be seen that a frame or solid curved arm, H is at one end secured to the cylinder-frame.

M is a brace pivoted at its lower end to the frame of the machine, and adapted to support the outer end of the arm or frame H against downward thrust.

m is a socket in the outer end of the arm H. p

This socket is open at its lower end, and upon one side, at, is a slot cut in the lips of the socket m, along the open side of said socket.

m is a key, fitting in the slot m, which, when the brace is pushed into place, is dropped down, as shown in Fig. 1, and locks the brace m firmly beneath the arm El and the outer end of the cylinder-shaft. To prevent the key from accidentally falling out it may be bent around in such manner as to be held firmly within the slot at M is a hook pivoted to the frame of themachine and adapted to catch the outer end of the arm H by means of an aperture therein. This guard'hook, when closed down, prevents the belt from flying off, and relieves the arm H from lateral strain and the cylinder-shaft from binding.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the belt in the position occupied when it is at work, with the brace M in place and the hook M closed down.

In Fig. 9 I have shown, in full lines, the brace .removed and the hook raised up, for the purpose of either putting on or taking off the belt.

By this means the belt may be put on or taken off in a moment without removing bolts or lacin gs.

N represents the shaft. of the beater mounted in the separator-casing behind the cylinder and above the separating-table.

N N are the blades, secured to the shaft in planes tangential to a cylinder of which the shaft of the heater is the center. When the beater is revolving in the direction indicated by the arrows it will be seen that the tendency of the blades is to throw down and backward the straw with which they come in contact, and that after they have passed the perpendicular below the shaft they will not tend to elevate and wind up the straw, as they would do were they arranged radially from the center.

I prefer to attach the blades to the shaft by means of circular heads N provided with mortises, into which the ends of the blades are inserted. These heads N are secured to the shaft by means of keys, which are inserted between the heads and the shaft from the inside of the beater, as shown in Fig. 12.

In order to have ready access to the interior of the beater, I have provided it with peculiar doors, as shown at O They are formed by making a partof one of the blades removable in the two pieces 0 0, which, when in place, are secured by means of screws 00. When it is necessary to key or unkey the beater the screws and doors 0 0 are removed until the attaching or detaching is accomplished, after which the doors are again secured in place. Thus I am enabled to construct a beater and secure it to the .shaft without the set-screws ordinarily employed, and without permitting any [)IOjt-"GllOllS to catch and wind up the straw.

P, Fig. i, represents a detachable counterbalancing-weight attached to the main beltwheel of the separating-table. This weightis fastened to one of the spokes of the wheel, and can be adjusted to any desired position, so as to perfectly counterbalance the separating-table and prevent any of thejerkiug or jarring ordinarily experienced in operating these machines.

P represents the pit-man for operating the separating-table P The table is suspended upon crank-armsp.

P is the grain-table, above which passes the grain rake or apron P.

Q, is the shoe, supported in the usual manner upon vibrating hangers, and receives the grain for winnowing.

1% represents the fan-casin g or drum, having an opening upon the side toward the shoe Q, and provided at the lower edge of said opening with an adjustable blast-board, 1", and at the top with a similar adjustable blastboard, 0", and having substantially in the center of the opening an adjustable blast-deflector,

W. The blades of the fan B are made (as is shown in Figs. 3 and 13) considerably less in width than the radius of the casing R.

r is a pointer upon the outside of the easing of the separator-machine to indicate the position of the central deflector, W.

S is a pinion secured to the fan-shaft outside of the casing of the machine, meshing with a spur-wheel, S, mounted upon a studshaft, 8, secured to the outside of the frame. This stud-shaft sis supported atits inner edge by a base-plate, '8, with which it is cast, and which is secured. to the machine by screws 8 Upon the outer face of the spur-gear S there is secured an eccentric, S

8 is a strap surrounding the eccentric S and having a large. oil-cup, T, secured to it. The parts of the eccentric-strap are fastened together with bolts having wooden packings it placed between them. The object of this wooden packing is to enable the taking up of any wear that shall occur to the eccentric.

U represents the rod which connects the cocentric with theshaking-head ofthe shoe. This rod is attached to the eccentric-strap by means ofa loop-nut, u, and ajam-nut, a. By thus combining with the rod U and the eccentric-strap the described loop-nutandthejam-nut theiuotion of the shoe and the delivery-spout may be adjusted, as the characterofsaid motion Will depend upon the distance between the strap and the shakinghead of the shoe. Heretofore, when an eccentric of this nature has been employed to operate the shoe and delivery-spout, the stud-shaft upon which it was mounted has been unsupported at the outer end, making it liable to work loose or to be broken oif by the jerks and jars experienced when at work. To remedy this I have made the shield V, shown in Figs 14 and 15. It is securettat both ends to the sills or outside frame of the machine, and it extends around the pinion S, spurwheel S, and the eccentric S It is provided with a hole, in which the outer end of the studshaft 8 has abearing and is supported from downward thrust, the shield thus relieving the stud of all strain and at the same time holding and covering the gear. The shield V is enlarged at v to providea hearing as strong as possible for the outer end of the stud-shaft s, as is shownin Fig. 15.

W represents the bell-crank lever or shakerhead, by means of which the shoe Q, and delivery spout W are reciprocated, receiving motion from red U and imparting motion to the shoe through rod U.

X represents a raddle-belt or tail-rake mounted upon pulleys or rollers a9, and supported within a detachable frame, the lower end of which conforms to and is supported against the rear end of the machine, to which it is attached by means of rods X X This elevatorrake is actuated by means of the lower pulley, or, which is rotated by means of a belt connected to the stacker-pulley.

Y represents aspider or device having radial arms adapted to agitate the elevating- ITO rake X. The tailings-spout Y, at the rear end ofthe shoe, communicates at its lower end with the elevator Z, which returns the tailings to the thrashing-cylinder, as is customary in this class of machines. I

In most grain, especially where there are many weeds, there is a great deal of foreign material, which passes to the tailings-elevator, so thatit often becomes overloaded and clogged and violently stopped. To remedy this I employ a'n under-acting elevatorthat is, an elevator in which the material is moved up along the lower side of the casing. In this under side of the elevator-box are inserted sieves, of which the first, z, is fine in mesh; thenext, z, somewhat coarser; the third, 2 coarser still, and so on to any desired number, as shown in Fig. 17. Each of these sieves is provided with a spout running down and back to any desired distance, preferably to the rear of the machine, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The object of this construction of the elevator and sieves is to permit the withdrawal from the material which is being dragged up of the grass-seed and weed-seed, which will respectively sift through the sieves adapted to permit their passage, and will be thenceconveyed down and deposited upon the ground or in suitable receptacles, the whole of which operation will be readily understood by an examination and comparison of Figs. 1 and 17.

If the material which is being operated upon by the machine is not of a character to endanger the clogging and choking of the elevator the sieves described may be closed, and the bottom of the elevator rendered tight by means of the covers or slides Z Z.

What I claim isl. The combination, with a main frame of a thrashing-machine, of a supplemental supporting-frame hinged thereto and having the horizon tal beams F, the vertical beams F and the inclined braces F substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the main frame and the cylinder of a thrashing-machine and a detachable supplemental frame hinged to the main frame, of the pulleys F F, mounted in the detach able frame, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the supplemental supporting-frame]? 1 F and the pulleys F F", of the standard f, pivoted to the frame, and the detachable rod f substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a cylinder-shaft, a

sleeve-coupling and a belt-pulley attached to said sleeve-coupling, substantially as set forth. 5 5

5. The combination, with the cylinder-shaft D, of the belt-pulley K, having the inwardlyprojecting central boss, 70 and the sleeve-coupling K, formed with the laterally projecting flange k substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A support for the outer end of the cylinder-shaft, consisting of a horizontal arm secured to but one end of the machine, and having the said shaft mounted in its free end,' in combination with a detachable brace pivoted beneath said arm, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with a vertical brace pivoted beneath the cylinder-shaft, a mounting for the shaft recessed-to receive and retain the upper end of said brace, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the cylinder-shaft, of a pivoted hook which retains the belt and relieves the shaft from strain, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the drive pulley, a two-part support for the cylinder shaft sur rounding the pulley, which is separated to per- Init the removal or attachment of the belt, substantially as set forth.

10. In a thrashing machine, a revolving straw-beater formed of blades or wings which are arranged to form a closed central chamber, and of which one blade is divided longitudinally and is arranged, substantially as set forth, to be detached from the beater to permit access to said chamber.

11. A revolving straw-beater constructed of wings or blades which are arranged to form a 0 close central chamber, and of which one is constructed with detachable beveled parts 0 O, substantially as set forth.

12. In athrashing-machine, the combination, with a reciprocating separator which receives 9 the straw from the cylinder, of an adjustable revolving counterbalancing-weight,. substantially as set forth.

. In testimony that I' claim the foregoing as myown, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. ELWARD.

Witnesses:

H. J. CHAMBERS, W. S. GooDHUE. 

